Valentines Day stuff! Also, BRAND NEW EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY MEME!

[beboots]

 Good evening, everyone! Happy Valentines day, for those of you who celebrate it! 

First, a brief link recommendation. If you've never heard of Postsecrets, you should definitely check them out: essentially, people send in anonymous postcards with their secrets on them. Some are sad, some are quirky, some are touching, and all are absolutely awesome. This week they have a Valentine-themed series of postcard secrets for you to look at. This one was my favourite: 


Furthermore, the Edmonton Journal (which, along with the National Post, I read almost every day to keep up with news about the world) apparently held a contest for the best Edmonton-themed Valentines cards, most of them poking fun at the city. This particular one was my absolute favourite, mostly because I had to cross that bridge five days a week to get to Fort Edmonton this past summer. It was murder during rush hour when it was down to one lane. >_<; It's been under construction for at least two and half years.

For more, see here!

As a side note, I did celebrate this Valentine's Day as a single person. Here's hoping that I shall find my true love in the coming year! :) I should mention that I mostly enjoy Valentine's Day because it also doubles as my dearest mother's birthday! We have flowers and chocolate about the house, then, regardless of the state of our personal lives. :) Happy birthday, mother mine! Now, tomorrow is the holiday I look forward to even more than the events of St. Valentine... Cheap Chocolate Day! Celebrated: wherever chocolate is sold!

On a final note... I actually began writing this post in response to the lovely surprise left for me at atla_valentine. I hadn't realized that people would leave me messages! :)  They made me smile. Therefore, my original plan had been, in response to people writing lovely flattering things about the history dorkery that goes on in this journal, to write a post about some of the crazy little tidbits I've been learning about in my History of Translation class... which just so happens to be what I'm studying for at the moment (even as I procrastinate reviewing for the midterm to write this post). I'll get around to that very soon! It will still happen!

I did, however, just have a thought. Maybe I could do something completely and utterly crazy and unprecedented. I could... do a history meme. I want to share the love with you guys. I love telling historical anecdotes; I like to think I got quite good at it while working at Fort Edmonton. Maybe no-one will want to play with me. I will still tell crazy history stories to the world! Just give me a direction, guys. :) What do you want to hear?

It shall be a shameless effort at trying to emulate the cool kids (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), only instead of fanfic, it will be random history tidbits, in the style of the posts that have appeared in this journal before.

THEREFORE, what I resolve to do is ask you, the readers, for history prompts! Ask me a historical question: anything you like. For instance: "who is your favourite member of European royalty and what was the most interesting thing they ever did?" "What do you think is the silliest reason a war ever started?" "What is the most unusual historical artifact you have ever seen in person?" "What can you tell me about Canada's participation in such-and-such a war?" It can even be something like "tell me the craziest thing you know about the 17th century/the bubonic plague/aboriginal history/etc., etc., ad nauseam." I shall even search for an appropriate image to accompany the historical blather! 

If I don't know the answer to your question, I resolve to use my research skills and access to university databases to find the answer! You may get more coherent history squee if I've heard of the topic before, though. I have studied European history across the ages, some East Asian history, and lots of Canadian and American history, but still, don't let that limit your selection! I suspect that if you ask me something about the history of medicine or the French or English languages you will get extra-long anecdotes. Indulge your curiosity, and I will try to be interesting in return! :) 

Comments

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Lien is quite villainous. She could perhaps be involved somehow... perhaps planting the idea of giving the pearl in Temeraire's mind, or ensuring through the cook that it gets swallowed?

"I have not at ALL settled on a timeline. I want to start it much, much closer to England, to not be reinventing the wheel by writing the entire cross-Asian journey with an extra dragon." That's a good point. It could happen closer to Turkey or something. ;) That way you can have Tharkay there too! ...Also, read faster. ;) There may be other options later on for the timeline. ... Also, if you want the Jane-is-pregnant storyline it may have to happen in England itself because they were gone an awful long time in China...

"it would take Jane AND Granby to sort it out again. (Granby hasn't been able to fix it. He takes the matter to Jane, and is quite mortified to break his captain's confidence.)" Aww yeah. Granby tried very hard, but he's brave enough to admit defeat and seek help. The combined stubbornness of Temeraire AND Laurence is a high mountain to climb.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Lien is quite villainous. She could perhaps be involved somehow... perhaps planting the idea of giving the pearl in Temeraire's mind, or ensuring through the cook that it gets swallowed?" I think it happens back in England to make my life easier, and I can tweak events as necessary-- at least NEAR England, maybe even partway through Black Powder War. Laurence flies unharnessed for that fight, they pretend he's one of the promised dragons, and Tem might need to stage "losing" his captain on a flight so that the Prussians don't get it.

"That's a good point. It could happen closer to Turkey or something. ;) That way you can have Tharkay there too! ...Also, read faster. ;) There may be other options later on for the timeline. ... Also, if you want the Jane-is-pregnant storyline it may have to happen in England itself because they were gone an awful long time in China..." I'm working on reading faster, I have three exams this week and was at a dance half of yesterday and once in a while I sleep. Not often, though, I've been an insomniac most of this month. I read 85% of the first book overnight when I couldn't sleep at all.

"Aww yeah. Granby tried very hard, but he's brave enough to admit defeat and seek help. The combined stubbornness of Temeraire AND Laurence is a high mountain to climb." Especially since they're so desperate for the other to be happy. Jane can badger Laurence into 'manning up' (purposely chosen to make him snap into a reaction) and admitting that it's disappointing to not have thumbs and to miss out on all the pleasures of being human, even in exchange for the new fun of having wings. Tem can stop thinking it's his fault whenever Lien does something particularly nasty or it will be a VERY long war.

(Also, all of Tem's tendrils... Laurence just might have forgotten. Tem's the bigger dragon, which makes it quite easier for Laurence to curl under him again, and Laurence might not realize that he has an... effect. Quite early on, but Tem is patient for once in his life, because Laurence would be upset and confused and still thinks of himself as a person. Tem decides to wait until being a dragon in the morning isn't a surprise, and also because Jane firmly told him that if he pursued his interests now, he would force Laurence to run from him, or WORSE, to not run because he'd do anything to make Tem happy. That makes Tem behave himself quite well, because that would be a horrible thing to do.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Laurence flies unharnessed for that fight, they pretend he's one of the promised dragons, and Tem might need to stage "losing" his captain on a flight so that the Prussians don't get it." Oh yeah, that would probably work... :3 (I want to ask a question but I have to wait until you've finished the third book. Curses!)

I totally know how you feel about too much stuff going on. I'm starting to feel a BIT panicky about my papers... stuff is steadily getting done, but the due dates are approaching fast...

"Tem decides to wait until being a dragon in the morning isn't a surprise" What a lovely way to put it! :) I also like the tendril idea... :3 Laurence has a lot on his mind and it wouldn't be COMPLETELY unreasonable for him to have forgotten...

"WORSE, to not run because he'd do anything to make Tem happy. That makes Tem behave himself quite well, because that would be a horrible thing to do." Oh god that would be heartbreaking. T_T I'm sure even Temeraire's reaction to Jane's suggesting that would be horrifying, too.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah, that would probably work... :3 (I want to ask a question but I have to wait until you've finished the third book. Curses!)" I'll let you know when I get to the end of the third/random point of the later books.

"What a lovely way to put it! :) I also like the tendril idea... :3 Laurence has a lot on his mind and it wouldn't be COMPLETELY unreasonable for him to have forgotten..." Especially as Tem's head is OVER his, and reptile anatomy isn't immediately as obvious as mammalian, and Laurence isn't thinking much of it. He's rubbing the top of his head on Tem's chin, and it isn't as if Temeraire minds. (Tem will just need some nice rocks. Laurence would be mortified beyond measure if (anyone knew that) he needed the same thing.)

"Oh god that would be heartbreaking. T_T I'm sure even Temeraire's reaction to Jane's suggesting that would be horrifying, too." I think Tem might lash out at first, because he would NOT harm Laurence and how could she say such things, but Jane stands her ground and THEN Temeraire is absolutely horrified that he might have harmed Laurence so badly and had no idea of what he'd done.

That would be the hyper-depressing outtake. "If Jane had been gone/had died here/something had happened that she couldn't talk sense into them." Lily and Max are lovely, but they're not nearly so perceptive, and Tem's a bit clouded by "MY captain" and "what a lovely dragon" and "odd, I used to think Mei was quite pretty, but he is a wonderful color." Laurence is a martyr until it is bodily forced out of him, and they're rather exhausting to live with.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Aww... yeah, Laurence would be just in it for the platonic comforting huggles... and then we can see the tables being turned and having TEMERAIRE act stoic and knowing more about the situation and trying to act with propriety, not the other way around for once. ;)

" I think Tem might lash out at first, because he would NOT harm Laurence and how could she say such things, but Jane stands her ground and THEN Temeraire is absolutely horrified that he might have harmed Laurence so badly and had no idea of what he'd done." Yeah, I can see Temeraire being defensive about it because of COURSE he would NEVER harm Laurence... but Jane is telling the truth.

"odd, I used to think Mei was quite pretty, but he is a wonderful color." I love this thought. Please include it at some point. What does Temeraire find particularly attractive about this dragon!Laurence? ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"Aww... yeah, Laurence would be just in it for the platonic comforting huggles... and then we can see the tables being turned and having TEMERAIRE act stoic and knowing more about the situation and trying to act with propriety, not the other way around for once. ;)" OMG YES-- it would be very upsetting to Laurence, he knows that, and worse-- Laurence would STOP. And that is not to be borne, so Tem occasionally makes a fast excuse about needing a swim and finds some nice rocks. (There is one little pool near the covert NO other dragon will approach. It's his favorite spot. It's clearly marked as his territory, they're not even trying it)

"Yeah, I can see Temeraire being defensive about it because of COURSE he would NEVER harm Laurence... but Jane is telling the truth." So then he's devastated that there was a CHANCE of hurting Laurence in that way, but Jane's very practical and quite kind in her own way so she outlines the Ways of seducing the man. 'I did it, after all, and I dare say that you have advantages of both appearance and intimacy in your favor already.' Tem would be jealous, but Jane clearly can't have sex with Laurence again, and Laurence would be VERY upset if Tem were to leave a single scratch out of pique.

"I love this thought. Please include it at some point. What does Temeraire find particularly attractive about this dragon!Laurence? ;)" Oh my, THAT is a list. It leaves dragon!Laurence quite flustered and shy, because he can hardly compete with an Imperial, let alone a Celestial, and nobody's wanted him quite so badly. He and Jane weren't nearly so serious, but if he loses Tem, he gives up.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

But of course if Temeraire runs off sometimes at inconvenient moments Laurence might feel hurt, too, so Temeraire must weigh his options carefully... ;)

"'I did it, after all, and I dare say that you have advantages of both appearance and intimacy in your favor already.'" OMG Jane giving Temeraire seduction advice = WIN. YOU WIN FOREVER. <3

I'm sure that if he and Temeraire ever really do talk about it Laurence WILL do a firebreathing version of a blush. Possibly with actual steam.

"He and Jane weren't nearly so serious, but if he loses Tem, he gives up." ;_;

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"But of course if Temeraire runs off sometimes at inconvenient moments Laurence might feel hurt, too, so Temeraire must weigh his options carefully... ;)" Even if it HURTS. Temeraire is quite indignant about this new development, that if he stays until Laurence thinks of something else, it causes PAIN and it is unpleasant he DISAPPROVES. (Granby turns beet red, Jane nearly makes herself sick laughing before explaining that it's quite common in humans, who restrain themselves to be polite as well)

"OMG Jane giving Temeraire seduction advice = WIN. YOU WIN FOREVER. <3" She is instantly forgiven, and all jealousy is put aside because it's perfect and something Tem hadn't actually understood before. Plus, she's around quite a bit, and then after she has the child she and Laurence have a few long talks about what to do next. I think Jane ends up living with Margaret for a month or two, as there's a war on and the strong chance the covert will be attacked and it isn't any place for a baby. Jane will get back to fighting when Margaret has a suitable wet-nurse and Lady Margaret's supervision

"I'm sure that if he and Temeraire ever really do talk about it Laurence WILL do a firebreathing version of a blush. Possibly with actual steam." Oh yes, he blushes and it's the most cute thing about him, especially since his muzzle dips down without any thought at all.

There's no use separating them. Temeraire would roar and Laurence would be so quiet and dutiful and not at his best that they lose any advantage at all.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Oh man, there's going to be a lot of frank discussion about dragon sexuality in this fic, isn't there? ;) AWESOME. Trailblazing! ;)

"I think Jane ends up living with Margaret for a month or two" I love this idea. I wonder how Lord Allendale will react? Possibly by studiously ignoring the connection between his wife's new friend and their youngest son. Willful denial. ;)

"There's no use separating them. Temeraire would roar and Laurence would be so quiet and dutiful and not at his best that they lose any advantage at all." Exactly. So you may as well just let them stay together. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

I've had too many classes to NOT think about it.

Lord Allendale chooses to pretend that it's some random woman his wife took a shining to, I think, probably until he realizes that the little girl looks quite a bit like a baby Laurence. Men of that age did NOT hold babies, not in high-class homes like that, but I think he would sit with her sometimes and give her little gifts.

Besides, you'd need to be a monster to not succumb to Laurence radiating Dutiful Misery. Seriously. It's an art form with him.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. He'd probably see the baby in passing the arms of the nanny at least once a day and so on, but once he notices the small similarities he'd go through a face of not being able NOT to notice and then he just goes back into self-denial again. ;)

"Besides, you'd need to be a monster to not succumb to Laurence radiating Dutiful Misery. Seriously. It's an art form with him." AND THE BEST PART IS HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HE'S DOING IT. It's adorable, and completely non-manipulative.

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

If the Dutiful Miser manipulation was intentional, it wouldn't work, but he's too damn dutiful to actually use it to his advantage. So all his friends do it for him.

Recent thought: some idiot (Rankin) might send word out that they have a feral, if there's quite a bit of indignation about immediately putting out a harness. Temeraire barely wears his, but a few of the less-tactful folk might want to put all of the history behind them in favor of getting a fire-breather.

I think Lord Allendale really notices when the girl toddles straight into his office (evading two nursemaids and a governess) and finds Laurence's favorite place and/or does something adorably similar. By the time they find the child, she is listening rather intently to Lord Allendale explaining the work she is interrupting.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

They can't HELP but want to help him. And cuddle him. Even if they aren't the cuddling type.

" but a few of the less-tactful folk might want to put all of the history behind them in favor of getting a fire-breather." Oh man. Rankin had better approach with EXTREME CAUTION lest he be squished. Same thing with whatshisname. That other guy from the first book. Dayes? That guy who lied to Temeraire. I think that even if the person wasn't given official leave to become Laurence's captain, I'm sure that he would have LOTS of suitors, bringing him shiny things and tasty bits of meat, tempting/bribing him into liking him best... Temeraire gets defensively jealous, even though Laurence is very polite about the whole thing and doesn't give any indication whatsoever that he's interested in the men.

"By the time they find the child, she is listening rather intently to Lord Allendale explaining the work she is interrupting." YES. <3

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

"They can't HELP but want to help him. And cuddle him. Even if they aren't the cuddling type." Temeraire is, and Jane adapts, and several of the crew get comfortable enough to perch on Laurence's foreleg or sprawl over his shoulder when he's lying down. After an invitation, Emily and Dyer clamber all over him, and Emily especially is close.

"Oh man. Rankin had better approach with EXTREME CAUTION lest he be squished. Same thing with whatshisname. That other guy from the first book. Dayes? That guy who lied to Temeraire." I even thought of them. Some fast-thinking man might convince some high-ranking official that knows nothing of dragons that things must be done, immediately, or the feral dragon must be sent to the breeding grounds. (I would imagine that to KEEP the dragons there, the wings are somehow marred. It's never said, but why would the dragons stay where they were put and give up their eggs at all? Unless later canon contradicts it, I would assume the wings are broken/clipped/somehow handicapped.)


"I think that even if the person wasn't given official leave to become Laurence's captain, I'm sure that he would have LOTS of suitors, bringing him shiny things and tasty bits of meat, tempting/bribing him into liking him best... Temeraire gets defensively jealous, even though Laurence is very polite about the whole thing and doesn't give any indication whatsoever that he's interested in the men." Laurence is a bit bemused by all of it. The shiny things are very coveted by the other dragons, so he leaves them on the ground for others to fight over and occasionally accepts a free meal.

Jane has a contingency plan. If she cannot convince the commanding officers to allow Granby to stay as the chief officer on Laurence, and cannot keep Temeraire and Laurence together, then she'll put herself forward as the most qualified person to train Laurence based on her experience with Excidium. It's a very unusual circumstance, but she could bear the separation for a time if it meant saving Laurence from the vultures. Excidium would agree, I think, because otherwise Jane would be very unhappy.

I do think that the original plan was "we won't tell anybody. We'll get a harness on, change his name, introduce him into the center of a new formation, and have a very experienced captain to make up for his lack of useful experience." It wouldn't stand.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

Oh man. The breeding grounds? You are not prepared. There is an AWESOME bit with the breeding grounds and the dragons there later on in the series. I will only say that no, their wings are not clipped. They mostly stay there of their own free will. Or "free will", however you want to interpret it.

Interesting contingency plan! Does that mean that Emily is put on Excidium early, or...?

But yeah, their subtle plan didn't work so well. As soon as people hear he's a FIRE BREATHER... all bets are off. Everyone wants a piece of him. >_>

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

What can I say, I'm cynical and don't expect hidden places to be nice until I've had a very good view of what's going on.

Laurence and Temeraire eventually form a two-point formation, and the two of them have an impossibly close synchrony of movement that nobody else can touch. They watch the other's flank constantly, they seem telepathic, and nobody even thinks to separate the pair when you could have two stronger positions (instead of one unassailable one). After a couple years, it's impossible to think of them being apart.

Jane had a long talk with Excidium, and they agreed that her lieutenant would take temporary command (same one that gets it while she's pregnant). Later, she gets command back, he has a nice resume boost, and Excidium's mature enough to miss her without letting it affect the fight.

Yeah. Fire breather, so everybody's pushing and pulling, and it probably takes Granby reminding all present that this dragon has the mind of a man, if they have ever doubted it in the others, and he will not stand back and watch them give his captain to the highest bidder. (Sir.)

Temeraire has a rather long period of frustration to suffer through, poor thing, but Jane is supportive and Lily thinks it's sweet.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

But man, that wing-clipping thing is a freaky thought. D: This series COULD go a whole lot darker really easily. I think it was in the first book that it was mentioned in passing that Laurence had heard that once, like a decade before, parliament had started a debate about culling off the retired dragons, like the ones in the breeding grounds to save money. They only didn't do it because the entire aerial corps threatened to revolt.

But man, if that had gone through... D:

I like the idea of a two-front formation. DOUBLE ATTACKS ARE DOUBLY EFFECTIVE.

"Fire breather, so everybody's pushing and pulling, and it probably takes Granby reminding all present that this dragon has the mind of a man, if they have ever doubted it in the others, and he will not stand back and watch them give his captain to the highest bidder. (Sir.)" XD
Also, (not that he would, but) this same dragon COULD just crisp them if they were annoying/pushy enough. Probably by accident. :P

Aww Lily. <3 I read this one fic a while back with the female dragons gossiping about various things and it was HILARIOUS. (Unfortunately, cannot recommend to you until you've finished book five. ;) )

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

That's why I expected some kind of wing-clipping. It does seem that the breeding areas are kept by aviators, but the examples I heard were "feral dragons" and the traitor Frenchman's dragon, neither of which seem particularly inclined to stay in one place because a human said it. There's also the example of how a politician would manage the "beasts." I do think that if Laurence proved impossible to tame, and seemed improbable to stay put, they just might realize that he wouldn't hurt them.

I remember that every aviator was going to walk out if the dragons were killed.

Plus, two-point center. Somebody is ALWAYS ready to fire, they can rest between volleys, and holy shit can they destroy it. Temeraire leads to get some nice edges, Laurence sets it on fire, Temeraire breaks it more... Most things will fall to that combination. They don't have the forging capabilities to resist heat and concussive force. It doesn't hurt that the two central dragons barely need their crews, and probably fly light so that they can stay even closer.

"Also, (not that he would, but) this same dragon COULD just crisp them if they were annoying/pushy enough. Probably by accident. :P" It probably would be an accident, as it's Laurence, but he DOES have a temper behind all the polite Britishness.

"Aww Lily. <3 I read this one fic a while back with the female dragons gossiping about various things and it was HILARIOUS. (Unfortunately, cannot recommend to you until you've finished book five. ;) )" OMG YES! She seems to talk most with males in the series, but that's what Laurence sees. The dragon-ladies would need more privacy to gossip properly, and I'd think that Catherine would provide her with all the information that Lily could want.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

I think that the French dragon was sent to the breeding grounds near Halifax (of course I remember, because it's Canada! :D ), so the dragon literally has nowhere else to go. Where else would he be able to fly to? Not back to France. (...I also have a sinking suspicion that that dragon is so torn up about the death of his captain that he doesn't want to go anywhere, or live life.)

"Somebody is ALWAYS ready to fire, they can rest between volleys, and holy shit can they destroy it." Aww yeah. :3 See, it makes tactical sense!

I think it would be interesting to chat with dragons. They have interesting perspectives on things. (Why isn't this series real life? ;_; )

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

(Yeah, that dragon doesn't really care about anything anymore, so good luck coaxing him into breeding-- maybe in time.)

It doesn't hurt that Temeraire and Laurence together are unstoppable, and all of their flank protection seems to act as an accessory-- one of them is periodically glancing up to check for threats from above, and Laurence's reaction to being frightened from above is probably to turn on whatever's coming and yell a warning, as in sailor training for unexpected visitor. As a dragon, that probably comes out fire the first time the hapless training assistant scares Laurence as is required.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"Laurence's reaction to being frightened from above is probably to turn on whatever's coming and yell a warning, as in sailor training for unexpected visitor." I love this idea - mingling his human instincts and training in a GOOD way. :D

Aww yeah, Laurence and Temeraire, unstoppable team! :D Good luck trying to take them out with anything less than like 20 or 30 dragons, and even then, the enemies had better not cluster too close together or they'll all be taken out by a few well-placed shots from these two. ;)

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

Laurence was trained on a ship, where if you are going down,a t least have the grace to yell out to the next poor soul if you're entirely startled on your own turf.

The real danger is that if either Laurence or Temeraire is injured, the other dragon will suddenly go beserk. Both of them absolutely despise Lien, and if the military is very smart they'll hold Laurence back and make him look like a full-time guard on Temeraire. (It takes forever to coax Laurence into hiding the yellow.)

[beboots.livejournal.com]

"The real danger is that if either Laurence or Temeraire is injured, the other dragon will suddenly go beserk." Oh yeah, that's a very good point! Gives them more reason to fight ever more fiercely so the other doesn't get injured?

Oh yeah, so Laurence the firebreather is now England's secret weapon? Because the French don't know... :3

[feral-shrew.livejournal.com]

It gets even harder to fight them after they're lovers. They KNOW each other in a way that most are never going to figure out, and their crews are probably very light and mostly there for some artillery support and signaling.

Lien turned Laurence into a dragon, something of his heritage. At worst he's an acid-spitter... she thinks. She didn't know he was French, never looked at his lovely family chart.

Also, stray thought: I still find it puzzling that Temeraire's egg was so poorly guarded. What would have happened if a few of the fire-breathers (I'll remember the proper name eventually) had flown out to escort the Amite in? Flying over the ocean is dangerous, but two of them could take it in turns and it's not difficult to carry an egg in a properly-done pouch.

If they found the egg in possession of the British, or if (better) a VERY large French gunship found them, then they might have been in French custody when the egg hatched on-ship. It would still find Laurence and that would be the end of it, but it's much thornier when it's the dragonet meant for the emperor and has decided that it's sleeping in the brig.

[beboots.livejournal.com]

And because they don't have actual captains, they are ridiculously difficult to capture. A boarding party from a French dragon can only hope to kill some of the crew but neither Laurence nor Temeraire would really be capable of being captured with the threat of hurting one person.

"At worst he's an acid-spitter... she thinks. She didn't know he was French, never looked at his lovely family chart." Oh yeah, she miscalculated. ;) She thought that she was going to humiliate him, have him turn into some low-bred dragon so everyone can see how low he really is... ;)

That's a good point about Temeraire's egg. I believe it was justified because they were trying to be secret. Also, generally the trip IS faster and less dangerous by sea than by dragon (Laurence only didn't wait at the beginning of Black Powder War because their ship had suffered an accident and needed months to be repaired), and a dragon transport ship isn't exactly subtle. ;) The Frenchmen on the ship had been in the doldrums for over a month and were running low on supplies, too. :(

"It would still find Laurence and that would be the end of it, but it's much thornier when it's the dragonet meant for the emperor and has decided that it's sleeping in the brig." Now that would be an interesting situation, if the egg imprinted on someone who was a prisoner of war! ;)

I think that they never intended the egg to hatch on board a ship: it was bound for Napoleon himself, remember? (Also, Napoleon was apparently notorious for not having a head for naval battles. He was all about land engagements. So he wouldn't be on a ship. ;) )